Jesse Joseph selected by Montreal in CFL draft

Just over a week after a program record five UConn players were selected in the NFL draft, another Husky was selected by a professional football team.

Defensive end Jesse Joseph was taken by Montreal with the 23rd overall pick in Monday's Canadian Football League draft although the earliest he would make his CFL debut is during the 2014 season since he is returning to the Huskies for a fifth season of eligibility.

Joseph, a native of Laval, Quebec, has 118 tackles and 13 sacks in 37 career games at UConn.

Joseph, an immediate starter as a true freshman, had 11 sacks in his first two seasons before being slowed by injury as a junior and senior. Joseph suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in a 24-21 win over Maryland. He was granted a fifth season of eligibility and is expected to be one of the leaders of a Connecticut defense which lost six starters including five who were either drafted or invited to NFL training camps.

Joseph is the fifth UConn product taken in the CFL draft since 2004. Receiver O'Neil Wilson was taken by Montreal with the 25th selection in 2004, defensive end Shawn Mayne went to Hamilton with the 18th pick in 2006, tight end Martin Bedard was selected with the 14th overall pick by Montreal in 2009 and in 2011 center Moe Petrus was chosen 10th overall by Hamilton.